Hi everyone,
Whats the best software to help design a layout. I am running windows 7 if that makes a difference and i prefer a shareware one if possible so i can invest the money into things needed to start the layout. Thanks.
The choice of a track planning tool finally depends on the track you intend to use on your layout. If you are happy with Atlas track, Atlas has a freebie download of a tool called RTS on their web page. There is a learning curve to it, but once you have the knack of it, it works nicely.
There is also XTrackCAD, which is a powerful tool. Again, there is a learning curve to it.
AnyRail allows you to download a demo version, which is limited to 50 elements - good only for very small layouts.
No CAD system will do the design work for you, but they do help you to make a presentable drawing and perform a “sanity check” to see, if all fits in.
Personally, I don’t see the necessity for software to plan a layout. Once you make a scale drawing of the available space,(including all windows and doors, or other obstructions like closets, bookcases or other fixtures), you can make pencil sketches of what you desire. Maximum reach should not exceed 30 inches, and radius of curves with a 24" minimum. I use 18" radius for a switcher in yards. Post a drawing on this Forum for a critique. Tell us your proposed location, era, and function,(as to switching, industries, operation or continuous running). Bob Hahn
One thing that is handy about track planing is it helps you see what will fit in your room. One warning about cad programs, they will let you make mistakes, like S curves!
I have been using the Atlas RTS 8.0, pain to learn, but it is free and works pretty good.
Cuda Ken
Human brain, mark 1.
A track plan drawing program will help you draw a track plan. It will not prevent you from drawing beautiful pictures of bad designs.
Start as Bob suggested - first draw a sketch of the room you want to build a layout in. The room. Not ajust a 4x8 foot table - the entire room. Mark off all dimensions, show doors and windows and other things in the room your layout will have to co-exist with.
Then describe what you want to be able to do with the trains on your layout. What kind of place you are modeling. What kind of rail traffic. What era. What scale you would prefer to work in. What limitations you will have to work around. Basically a list of wishes and and a list of givens.
When you have done that, come back, and we will point you at some books and web pages you ought to read to get a background for drawing a track plan - by hand, or using one of the track plan drawing programs.
The programs are good for visualizing incremental changes to your plan once you have figured out your main design parameters.
But it is a bad idea to jump directly into a drawing a track plan, without first taking the time to define your goal and the limits you will have to stay within.
When you get to that point, we will also know whether your are planning a design where it is not so important that every track is located just so, or whether you are planning a layout crammed to the gills with tracks - where it gets important that each turnout on your track plan is of the same make and model as the turnouts you will be buying to build the layout - all turnouts are not created with equal geometry.
And then it becomes possible to point you at some specific track plan drawing tool.
Good luck!
I used 3rd PlanIt when I designed my layout. Pretty easy to learn, lots of fun to play around with.
Xtracad I’ve also tried and really like it (and it’s free).
Larry
Personally, I’m a fan of Anyrail. No, it’s not free, but it’s money well spent. Good libraries, and not a lot of learning curve. Plus, you can export your designs to TrainPlayer and practice running them. In my opinion, it’s better to spend the money on something that works better than the freeware out there. Given the amount of time I’ve spent playing with it, the software cost me less than $0.10 / hr.
And to answer the opinion of the poster who doesn’t see the value in them: It’s in part a green thing (you don’t waste paper), part a convenience thing (you can save the same file several times and experiment), and finally, the rules keep you honest (in Anyrail, you can specify a minimum radius, and if you bend flextrack more than that, it highlights it in red to let you know).
However, I agree with UIrich. Before you jump into a CAD or other electronic tool, you should have a fair idea what you want to do.
Thanks everyone. All of it is helpful.
What program can i use to get a drawing of the room so i can upload it to photobucket so i can share it. I found a couple of layout designs i like. On 1/2 of the layout I plan of doing somekind of logging and coal operation. Which i am thinking will be some switching. The other is more of a travling one with sleeper cars/baggage cars etc. This one will be more of a continuous running with minimul switching. Era, it will be more of the 60’s/70’s i think with a rural feeling.
hi travler with no name,
use RTS is free…
Skip the first part about standard-forms and go to " tools / draw".
With the “LINE-option” you can draw your room. Save it as “bitmap” and Photobucket will accept it.
Save it as Ral-file in a special map too… so you can always use your drawing as a starter for new trials. You can’t change a bitmap.
Listen careful to the remarks of Stein…draw your plan first by hand, using SQUARES; a John Armstrong invention. Only after your planning is done, go to CAD.
Someone mentioned being green by using CAD, never more paper is wasted by producing prints. It might be the truth for him, computors are heaven for the paper industry.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Are you talking about the atlas one. Thats the only rts software i can find. I have it downloaded, just got to install it. Thanks.
Sean
Yup - that´s the one Paul was suggesting.
Actually, I am quite happy with this tool. Suits my needs, took a little time to learn and the “Draw” function allows you not only to enhance your track plans, but also prepare nice views, such as this:
Or even that:
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Pen and paper, take a photo of the paper or scan it (if you have printer that is also a scanner)
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Ms Paint (or equivalent drawing program)
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Download any of the track plan drawing programs and use line drawings to show the room
You don’t need a very specialized program to give people an idea of what kind of space you have available in your room.
If everything else fails, you can always describe your room with just words. Call the four walls north, east, south and west, describe how long the walls are, where doors and windows are, how wide things are and so on and so forth - someone will be able to draw the room for you pretty easy.
Smile,
Stein
So you have to be slightly smarter than the average bovine and not print everything you produce. Especially experiments that don’t measure up. Being green does take a little self-restraint.
Maybe I’m anal retentive, but the stack of paper in my printer is stuff that’s already been printed on one side. All my receipts from online orders are saved in a file on my computer (no hard copies). Real paper only gets used for documents that have to be good quality, and there really aren’t very many of those.
My kids want to print everything they design or draw, but they’re only allowed to print one drawing / design etc. per day. The result? They rarely print anything, because they’re saving that one printout for the best picture of the day, which often doesn’t materialize.
i use cadrail from sandia software, i had 6, then 7, and have just upgraded to 9.
Hello.
Do you guys know if there is any programs for mac (OS X)? I can not seem to find any.
Best regards
Espen
Hei Espen –
Haddon Express: http://www.haddonsoftware.com/
XtrkCad: http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/MacOSX
Smil,
Stein
As I am. I did purchase the more expensive but the learning curve was to steep. Anyrail was quick and easy to use. Plus their forum is top notch.